Oil well pump



E. C. FURRER Sept. 23, 1958 OIL WELL PUMP 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1954 INVENTOR. Emer C. Fw-ner Byg q ATTOR NEY5 E. C. FURRER OIL WELL PUMP Sept. 23, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1954 57:15:: ill/ 5711! ill 77 y I 4 '1 iv n r III??? 1 E 2/ h."

INVENTOR. Emu; C .Farner B Mal/1411M ATTOIZNEY5 United States Patent OIL WELL PUMP Emery C. Furrer, near Frankfort, llll.

Application July 1, 1954, Serial No. 440,669

9 Claims. (Cl. 103-45) This invention relates to improvements in oil well pumps.

Pumps have been designed for use in oil wells which are operable by pressure fluid, such as crude oil, which is supplied under adequate pressure to a power piston of the pump mechanism. Such pumping mechanism renders use'of sucker rods and counter-balancing means above ground unnecessary.

An object of the present invention which relates to mechanism of the above mentioned type, is to provide a fiuid pressure operated pump mechanism which is devoid of springs for operating valves or like parts, which when breakage occurs requires withdrawal of the mecha- "nismfrom the well for repairs. The withdrawing of pumping mechanism from a deep oil well and the resulting delay in oil production are costly.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide, in oil well pumping mechanism, a reciprocal piston actuated pump which is operated by pressure fluid and including sleeve valves operable in part by the piston and in part by the pressure fluid to effect the registry in proper sequences of exhaust and power fluid ports for directing pressure fluid to opposite sides of the power piston to effect alternately the power strokes thereof.

'Another object of the invention relates to mechanism for imparting arcuate shifting of the sleeve valves during a portion of each reciprocal stroke thereof for effecting the registration of particular power fluid and exhaust ports and non-registration of other ports for effecting the operation of the power piston which operates the pump piston.

Other objects of theinvention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a broken elevation of the pumping apparatus including the improved mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a broken sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a broken sectional view taken on line3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a broken sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a broken sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Fig. '5;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the sleeve valves shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 7 in their uppermost position; and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the sleeve valves shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 7 in their lowermost position.

In Fig. l of the drawing apparatus including the improved pump mechanism is illustrated. At the mouth "of the well a tank 10 is shown which may be supplied Patented Sept. 23, 1958 ice with oil initially for starting the pumping operation and into which tank oil (petroleum) pumped. from the well is delivered through a discharge or delivery pipe 11. A pump 12 of any appropriate type, which is operated by an electrical motor 13, draws oil from the tank 10 and delivers it under suitablepressure to pipe 14. The oil under pressure in the pipe 14 provides the power required for operatinga piston of a pump which is located at or near the bottom of the well, the exhaustoil from. the pump mechanism returning to the tank through the delivery pipe 11 together with fresh oil delivered thereto by the pump. A casing 15 is shown diagrammatically within the well.

Near the bottom of the well so that the pump mechanism makes contact with the oil which seeps orjflows into the well casing, the improved pumping mechanism is. suspended by the delivery line 11 and pressure line 14. The mechanism comprises a casting or forging 16 having two longitudinal passages 11a and 14a, the first constituting a continuation of the delivery pipe 11 and the latter a continuation of the pressure fluid pipe 14. An intermediate valve chamber 17 is provided in the casting which is closed at the upper end by a threaded cap 18.

The casting 16 is shown as connected at the lower end by pipes 11b, 14b and 171; with a lower casting 19 which has a delivery passage 11c, pressure fluid passage 14c anda valve chamber 170. the latter two of which are closed at the lower end. The connecting pipes 11b, 14b and 17b may be welded or otherwise connected to the respective ends of the castings 16 and 19. The pipe sections 11b, 14b and 17b provide necessary total length of the two castings as Will later appear.

To the castings .16 and 19 is secured, as by bolts 20, the cylinder 21, pr-ovided with a cap 22 at the upper end and secured at the lower end, as by threads, to a casting 23. See Fig. 2. A cylinder 24 below casting 23 threadedly engages the casting 23 and at the lower end similarly engages a casting 25. Depending from casting 25 is a tubular section 26 provided at the lower end with a cylindrical screen 27 (shown diagrammatically) which strains theground oil passing into the pumping mechanism at or near the bottom of the well bore.

Through the casting 16 the passage of the oil delivery pipe 11 is continued by the bore 11a, thence by pipe section 11b to bore in casting 19 and thence by pipe section 11d (see Figs. '7 and 8) down to and threadedly joined to casting 23. From casting 23 an extensionof the oil discharge pipe is continued by pipe section 11c and at the lower end is connected to casting 25. See Figs. 2 and 8. 2

Members indicated as castings 23 and 25 are provided scribed and constitute portions of the pump mechanism of the present disclosure, the power for actuating the pump being a power piston 28 located in the cylinder 21. See Fig. 2. The piston 28 reciprocates a rod 29 attached thereto and passing from the cylinder 21, through the casting 23 and into pu'rnp cylinder 24 where it is attached to a pump piston 30. Both'the power piston 28 and the pump piston 30 function in both the up and down strokes.

When the apparatus is in place in a well it will be seen that oil in the lower chamber 26 will, upon the up stroke of the pump piston 30, be drawn up past the ball check 31 in the passage 32 into the pump cylinder 24. On the down stroke of the pump piston 30, the check valve 31 will be closed and oil will be forced from the cylinder through passage. 33 (see Fig. 8) into the communicating tube 116. A check valve 34 in the casting 23 prevents back flow of the fluid. Likewise a check valve 35 in a passage 36 'in the casting 23 prevents such oil from flowing into the space above the pump cylinder during its descent. Hence the oil forced upwardly past check valve 34 can flow only into the pipe 11d which communicates with, or forms an extension, of the oil delivery pipe 11.

As the pump piston 30 was descending in the stroke above mentioned, oil from the lower pump section 26 will have been drawn by the suction past the check valve 37 into passage 38 in casting 25, up through pipe section 39 into passage 40 in casting 23, and thence into pump cylinder 24 above the descending piston 30. In Fig. 2 the downward extension of passage 40 is suggested by dotted lines, but actually such portion is not within the plane of the section. See Figs. 2 and 5. On the succeeding up stroke of the pump piston 30, oil drawn into the cylinder 24, as just described, is forced past check valve 35 into delivery duct section 11d toward the tank 10, while on such up-stroke oil from the chamber of section 26 is drawn into the piston chamber below the piston through the valved passage 32. It will thus be seen that the pump piston 30 forces oil into the delivery pipe during each up and down stroke and eventually fills the delivery pipe with oil which on succeeding strokes of the pump flows into the tank 10.

The power piston 28 is actuated by fluid pressure, such as that of oil delivered to the duct or pipe 14 by the pump 12. The mechanism whereby the power piston 28 is reciprocated for operating the pump piston 30 will now be described.

Within the valve chambers 17 and 17c above mentioned are sleeve valves which are joined to operate in unison. In chamber 17 the sleeve valve is indicated generally by numeral 45 and comprises a cylindrical valvesection 46 closed by transverse walls 47 and 48 and an upper cylindrical cup section 49 which is open at the upper end. The valve sections 46 and 49 are provided with ports which will later be described. The upper valve sleeve 45 is connected by a rod to the lower valve sleeve indicated generally by numeral 50 and comprises an upper cylindrical section 51 which is closed at the ends by transverse walls 52 and 53 and a lower cylindrical section 54 which is open at the lower end. Valve section 45 operates in the chamber 17 while section 50 operates in lower chamber 170, the movement of the sections being in unison by reason of the connecting rod 55. Such movement during a single cycle of operation of the valves from and to an uppermost position being first a downward, straight line, vertical movement, then a downward, arcuate or turning movement to the lowermost position, thence an upward straight line movement and finally an upward turning movement in a direction opposed to the original turning movement to the original upper starting position. The initial downward straight line portions of movement and the upward straight line portions of movement of the valve members are imparted thereto by the power piston 28 during final portions of the successive downward and upward power strokes thereof, whereas the downward-arcuate and upward-arcuate or turning portions of the movements of the valve sleeves are produced by fluid pressure from the pressure line 14 acting against the valve members in cooperation with cam-like surfaces which impart the arcuate characteristics of said portions of the strokes. The fluid intake and exhaust ports and other features of the improved construction whereby the reciprocation of the power piston 28 is effected to actuate the pump piston 30 will now be described.

In Figs. 2, 3, and 7, the power piston 28 is shown in the uppermost position within the cylinder 21, as is the valve mechanism comprising the connected sleeve valves 45 and 50. Fig. 9 is a development of the sleeve valves showing the valve ports thereof and some of the associated ports in the delivery pipe 11 and supply pipe 14. In Fig. 10, which is a development also, the valve sleeves are shown in their lowermost positions, that is,

after the downward arcuate movement thereof, in asso ciation with some of the ports in the pipes 11 and 14.

If it is assumed that there is fluid in pipe 14 under adequate pressure of the pump 12, fluid can flow from the pressure line 14 through port 56 in the Wall of the passage 140 through the trapezium shaped port 57 in the wall of lower inverted cup-shaped valve chamber 54. In Figs. 7 and 9, it will be seen that in this position of the sleeve valves, port 56 communicates with merely a small portion of port 57. It admits pressure fluid merely for the purpose of retaining the sleeve valves in the upper position shown in Fig. 9. In the cup portion 54, an inverted U-shaped port 58 is out of registration with a port 59 in the portion 110 of the exhaust line 11. In the corresponding upper cup-like cylinder section 49, there is a trapezium shaped port 60, but in the upper position of the sleeve valves shown in Fig. 9 the port 60 does not register with a port 61 in the pressure line 14. In the sleeve section 49 is a U-shaped port 62 which is in registration with a port 63 in exhaust portion 11a of the line 11 which, as will be clear from Fig. 9, permits fluid in the valve section 49 to exhaust into the portion 11a as the valve sleeves are moved first truly vertically and then vertically with an arcuate component to the upper position as later described. With the sleeve valves in the upper positions shown in Figs. 2, 3, 7 and 9, the piston 28 is started on its downward power stroke by pressure fluid from line 14 which flows through port 64 and through the then registering port 65 in the wall of sleeve valve section 46. Fluid from a prior operation may fill the chamber and so the freshly admitted fluid will force fluid from the valve section 46 through a port 66 which is then in registration with a diamond shaped port 67 in the wall of the casing section 17 and the cylinder 21. See Figs. 2 and 9. Pressure fluid thus flows into the cylinder 21 above the piston 28 to force it downwardly. As the piston moves down, the fluid in the cylinder below the piston 28 is forced out through a second diamond shaped opening 68 in the piston wall, through a then registering port 69 in the lower valve sleeve section 51 and from the latter through a sleeve port 70 and a registering port 71 in the exhaust passage section 110.

As the piston moves down, as described, under fluid pressure applied above the piston, the lower edge of the double piston 28 will engage a sleeve valve shift finger 72 which is carried by the sleeve 50 and extends into the lower piston chamber through the diamond shaped opening 68. The downwardly moving piston, after engaging the finger 72, moves the valve sleeves downward- 1y until the finger 72 has moved along the vertical lefthand side of the diamond shaped opening 68. to adjacent the bottom of said vertical left-hand side of the opening 68 to position 7211, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 9.

Just before the completion of the down stroke of the piston with the sleeve valves as described, the inflow of pressure fluid to the cylinder 21 above the piston will have been cut off by reason of the downward movement of the sleeve 45, causing the displacement of the port 65 from registration with port 64 and port 66 from registration with the diamond shaped port 67. Likewise, the port 69 in lower sleeve 50 will have moved out of registration with the diamond shaped port 68 and port 70 will have moved out of registration with port 71. The shutting ofl of pressure fluid to the piston stops its descent but the arresting of such downward movement of the piston is cushioned by the fluid entrapped in the cylinder below the piston.

During the lowering of the sleeves by the piston as just described, fluid from the delivery duct section 11a will be admitted into the sleeve valve cup section 49 through the port 63 and U-shaped port 62 to relieve the suction effect of the downward moving cup section. Likewise, during such downward movement of the sleeves, the sleeve port 57 in the lower sleeve cup section 54 will have erase-ore moved out of registration with port 56 to cut. offthe supply ofipressure fluid below the lower sleeve and theinverted U-shaped port 58 will have moved into registrationwith the port 59 to accommodate the flow of exhaust fluid from below the sleeve into the exhaust pipe section 112.

Just before the sleeve valvesireach the downward limit of their strictly vertical travel, port 62 will pass out of registration with port 63 andthe port 60 in the upper cup section 49 of the sleeve valve will have come into register with the port 61 to admit pressure fluid from the line 14 into the upper sleeve above the wall 48. The pressure ofthe fluid will continue the downward movement of the sleeves, but instead of a strictly vertical movement of the sleeves, there will be also a turning movement within therespective chambers 17 and 17c by reason of the camming' action. of the lower inclined edge of the port 68 on the finger 72. A similar 'cam-ming action occurs by reasonof the contact of a. second finger 73 carried by upper sleeve valve 45' with. the similar inclined wall of the port 67. The sleeve valves thus continue the downward turning movement independently of the'piston 28, the angular disposition of the trapezium shaped port 60 enabling it to maintain registration with the intake port 61 during such angular movement of the sleeve valves, the U-shaped port 62 being then out of contact with the port 63. Likewise, during thedo wnward arcuate movement of the sleeves, the inclined section. of the port 58 in the lower inverted cup section 54 of the sleeve 50 maintains registration with. the exhaust port 59 to accommodate the exhaust flow of fluid from the sleeve sectioni54 into the portionllc of the delivery line 11.

The described downward and angular movement of the sleeve valves continues to their lowermost positions shown in Fig. 10, in which positions the U-shaped' port 62 in the upper cup shaped sleeve section 49 is out of registration with exhaust port 63 and the port 60 is slightly in register with the pressure port 61 to provide pressure to hold the sleeves in the down position. As the sleeve valves reach the lowermost positions shown in Fig. 10, they remain so until the piston completes substantially its Lip-stroke. This up-stroke is effected by pressure fluid from the pressure line passingthrough port 75 .into and through port 76 as those ports begin tomove into registering position during the downward arcuate movement of the valve mechanism as described. From the valve section 51 of the valve member 50 the pressure fluid passes out through port 77 through the diamond shaped port 68 in the wall. of the: cylinder 21 below the: piston 28 to force it upward. The ports 76 and 77 move into full registration with ports 75 and 68, respectively, as the final downward arcuat'e movement of the sleeve valve mechanism is reached, as shownin Fig. 10.

As the piston 28 is: movedupward during'this power stroke, the upper portion thereof engages the finger 73. during the latter portion of. the stroke and liftsit. vertically to the dotted line position indicated at 73a inFig. 10.

As the finger 73 approaches the end of itsstrictly vertical upward movement as described, it. will have. shifted the sleeve valves upwardly from the position shown in:Fig. 10, until port 76 isoutof registration with port 75 and port 77 is out of registration with port 68, thus stopping the flow of pressure fluid to the lower portion of the cylinder. During the upward powerrstroke of the piston 28, fluid above the piston is exhausted through the diamond shaped port 67 inthe cylinder wall through'the then registering port 78 in the sleeve section 46 and from the sleeve section through thecsleeve port 79, which then registers with the port 80 in the exhaust line section 11a. As the power fiuid which produced the upward movement of the piston is shut off by theupward displacement of the sleeve 50 as above described, the concurrent upward.displacement of the upper sleeve 45 will move port 78 out of registration with the diamond shaped port 67 and port 79 out of registration with port 80 and trap the fluid remainingin the :cylinder 21 above the piston and cushion its arrest.

During such vertical upward movement of the valve mechanism; by the piston which occurred after the upward- 11ymovingppistonengaged the finger 73, port 60 will have been moved vertically out of registration with port 61, while Ufshapedt port 62 will havemoved into registration with exhaust port 63. In fact, as the strictly vertical movement 0f the sleeve valves is ended bythe interruption ofrupward movement'of the piston, the U-shapedport 62 will be at an elevation. whereby the port 63 will be in the position indicated by 63a. Such registration ofthe ports 62 and 63-will permit fluid in the cup shaped valve section 49 to exhaust into the section 11a of'line 11 as the sleeve valvecontinues upwardly and arcuately toward the starting position shown in Fig. 9. Such sleeve valve movement will be caused by the registration of port 56 with port 57 in the lower cup section 54, and pressure fluid from the line 14, via passage 140, will enter the cup 54 to provide the necessary valve shifting power. During the inflow of the pres-sure fluid into section 5-4, the inverted U-shaped opening S'Sis above the outlet port 59 as the'relative position of the latter at 59a indicates in Fig. 10. Hence the pressure fluid entering the lower and inverted cup 54 through registering ports 56 and the trapezium shaped port 57 provides the power formoving the valve mechanism through the upward diagonal path to the positions of the parts shown in Fig. 9, during which movement ofthe parts; the next downward power stroke of the piston will'begin as above described.

In summary, it will be seen that when the sleeve valves are in the upper position shown in Figs. 2, 3, 7 and 9, .pressurefluid will be delivered through ports 64 and 6S and 66"and6.7 above the piston 28 to force it down, the

sleeves being, held in the upper position by pressure 'in 'the lower cup 54 by fluid pressure entering ports '56 and 57 which are in partial registration as shown in Fig. 9. The sleeve valves remain in the position shown in said figure until the; piston 28 approaches the end of its down- Ward power stroke, which may be substantial, as 30 inches for example. When the lower edge of the power piston 28 hasengaged the finger 72 and moved it and the sleeves down until the finger has reached the end or substantially the end, ofthe strictly vertical path of descent, as from the run line position shown in Fig. 9 to the'dotted line position indicated at 72a in Fig. 9, the downward movement of the sleeves will have shut off the supply of power above thepiston by the shifting of port 65 out of are turned arcuately byreason of the contact of fingers 72 and 73 with thelower inclined edges of the diamond shaped. openings 68.and 67, respectively. During this descending and arcuatephase of movement of the sleeves, port 76'moves into-registry with inlet port 75 and port 77 moves into registry with diamond shaped port 68 in the lower sleeve to apply pressure fluid below the piston 28 tocause' itto begin its upward movement. As it approaches the end of such upward movement, the upper portion ofthe piston engages the finger 73 (then in the lowermost portion of the port 67) and shifts the finger and the sleeve valves upward to the end of the straight line. movement. Such upward shifting of the sleeves cuts .olftheinflowofpressurefluid from port 75 through port 76 iH1th6llOW6I sleeve portion 51 and moves port 57 into registry with pressure port 56 and so the sleeves continue the upward movement but turn arcuately in so doing by the camming eflect produced by the fingers 72 and 73 slidingalong the upper inclined edges of the ports 68 and 67, respectively, which upward arcuate movement,

when completed re-arranges the ports in the relative position shown in Fig. 9.

It will be seen from the above description that as the sleeve valves are moving upwardly with a turning action under the influence of pressure fluid acting in the lower cup 54, the piston begins to move downward and during the latter portion of its down stroke it engages the finger 72 and shifts the sleeve valves downward with a straight line movement to the position wherein the pressure fluid supply port 64 for the upper sleeve is closed and the exhaust port 71 for the lower sleeve is closed, thus arresting the downward piston movement. Such downward movement of the sleeve valves effects registration of port 60 of upper cup 49 with the intake port 61 and hence the sleeve valves continue downwardly but with a turning action by reason of the engagement of fingers 72 and 73 with the lower inclined edges of ports 68 and 67, respectively. Such turning action effects registration of ports as shown in Fig. which move the piston upwardly and as it approaches the end of the up stroke it engages the upper finger 73 (then in the lowermost position shown in Fig. 10) and moves the sleeve valves upwardly to close the pressure fluid supply port 75 for the lower sleeve valve and the exhaust port 80 for the upper sleeve valve to end the upward piston stroke with a cushioning action. As the sleeve valves are being moved upwardly by the piston, port 57 of the lower cup 54 is moved into registration with port 56 to admit pressure fluid into the cup to continue the upward movement of the sleeve valves, but as they so move upward, the fingers 72 and 73 contact the inclined upper edges of the ports 68 and 67, respectively, and turn the sleeve valves back to the position shown in Fig. 9 and during such movement, ports 65 and 66 of the upper sleeve valve move into registration with the ports 64 and 67, respectively, to direct pressure fluid above the piston to start it downward in another cycle.

Viewing Fig. 9, it will be obvious that as the sleeve valves begin to move down by contact of the finger 72 by the downwardly moving piston, fluid in the lower cup 54 can exhaust momentarily through the ports 57 and 56 into the pressure line, and that before said ports are out of registration the port 58 will begin to register with port 59 when the fluid in the cup 54 will begin to exhaust to the exhaust line. Similarly, as viewed in Fig. 10, as the sleeves begin to move upwardly by contact of the piston with the upper finger 73, fluid in the cup 49 can initially exhaust through the ports 60 and 61 and that before they have moved out of registration the port 62 will have begun to register with port 63, through which the exhaust occurs to the end of the up stroke of the sleeve valves.

The actuation of the piston 28, as described, operates the pump piston 30, also as described, for pumping oil or other fluid from the well. Since the casings in the bottoms of deep wells often are of relatively small diameter, the described pumping mechanism also can be of a diameter to be accommodated by such casings.

Since the height of the column of oil in pressure line 14 will never be materially less than the height of the columns of oil in delivery or exhaust line 11, those columns, when of equal height, will be substantially in balance and hence the power required for actual pumping operations can be supplied by a motor 13 which may be of substantially less rated capacity than a power unit employed in pumping equipment not employing a fluid pressure line which counterbalances the line of the fluid being pumped from the well.

While I have described an embodiment of the invention for the purpose of illustration, various alterations in the specific details thereof may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a well pumping mechanism adapted for operation adjacent the bottom of a well having a pump, motor- 8 means for actuating said pump, comprising a power cylinder, a piston in the cylinder attached to the pump for operation thereof, a pressure fluid supply pipe, an exhaust fluid pipe for receiving fluid from the pump, a valve casing comprising upper and lower sections, each pro vided with a cylinder port communicating with the cylinder one above and the other below the range of operation of the piston therein, a vertically sliding sleeve valve in each casing section connected for operation in unison each within the respective casing section, a finger projecting from each sleeve valve into the cylinder one above and the other below the piston, means cooperating with the fingers for imposing a turning component on the sleeve valves in one direction during the latter portion of the descent thereof and similar means for imposing a turning action in the opposite direction during the latter portion of the ascent thereof, said casing sections each having an intake port communicating with the pressure fluid supply pipe and exhaust port communicating with the exhaust pipe, said sleeve valves each having a pair of pressure fluid transfer ports and a pair of exhaust fluid transfer ports, the pressure fluid transfer ports of the upper sleeve valve moving into registration with the intake and cylinder ports of the upper casing section during the upward-turning movement of the sleeve valves to direct pressure fluid from the delivery pipe into the cylinder above the piston to effect the down stroke thereof, the pressure fluid transfer ports of the lower sleeve valve moving into registration with the intake and cylinder ports of the lower casing section during the downward-turning movement of the sleeve valves to direct pressure fluid into the cylinder below the piston for effecting the up stroke thereof, one of said fingers being engageable by the piston during the terminal portion of each stroke thereof for shifting the sleeve valves in a corresponding direction for moving the fluid transfer ports thereof out of registration with the casing ports for terminating the piston stroke and cushioning the arrest of the piston, and means for admitting pressure fluid from the supply pipe into the upper casing section during the downward movement of the sleeve valves by the piston and similar means for admitting pressure fluid from the supply pipe into the lower casing section during the upward movement of the sleeve valves by the piston for continuing the movements of the sleeve valves through the turning portions of the respective strokes.

2. In a well pumping mechanism adapted for operation adjacent the bottom of a well having a pump, motor means for actuating said pump, comprising a power cylinder, a piston in the cylinder attached to the pump for operation thereof, a pressure fluid supply pipe, an exhaust pipe for receiving fluid from the pump, a valve casing comprising upper and lower sections each provided with a cylinder port having vertical side edges and inclined upper and lower edges and communicating with the cylinder one above and the other below the range of operation of the piston therein, said valve casing sections each provided with an intake port communicating with the supply pipe and an exhaust port communicating with exhaust pipe, a sleeve valve in each casing section connected at the adjacent ends for reciprocation and reciprocal-turning movement in unison, a finger projecting from each sleeve valve through the cylinder port thereof into the cylinder one above and the other below the piston for engagement by the piston for shifting the sleeve valves vertically in the direction of piston move ment and moving said fingers along one vertical edge of the respective cylinder ports during the terminal portion of each stroke of the piston, said casing sections each provided with a second intake port communicating with the pressure pipe for supplying pressure fluid to the respective casing sections alternately during the terminal portion of the movement of the sleeve valves by the piston for continuing the movement of the sleeve valves and causing said fingers to engage the corresponding inclined edges of the cylinder ports to impart a turning action to the sleeve valves to the ends of the strokes thereof, said sleeve valves each having a pair of pressure fluid transfer ports and a pair of exhaust fluid transfer ports, the pairs of pressure fluid transfer ports of the sleeve valves being positioned for alternative registration with the pressure fluid intake port and the cylinder port of the respective casing sections for directing pressure fluid to the cylinder at opposite ends of the piston for effecting reciprocation of thepiston, and the pairs of exhaust fluid transfer ports of each sleeve valve being positioned for registration with the cylinder port and exhaust port of the respective casing section concurrently with the delivery of pressure fluid to the cylinder by the pressure fluidtransfer ports of the other sleeve valve.

3. In a well pumping mechanism adapted for operation adjacent the bottom of a well, a power cylinder, a piston in the cylinder having a rod attached thereto for operation thereby, a pressure fluid supply pipe; an exhaust pipe for receiving fluid, a valve casing comprising upper and lower sections each provided with a cylinder port having parallel inclined upper and lower edges and communicating with the cylinder one above and the other below the range of operation of the piston'therein, saidvalve casing sections each provided with an intake port communicating with said supply pipe and an exhaust port communicating with such exhaust pipe, a cylindrical sleeve valve in each casing section connected together for reciprocatory and reciprocal turning movement in unison each within the respective casing section, and a finger extending from each sleeve valve through the cylinder port of the respective casing section into the cylinder for alternate engagement by the piston during the terminal portion of the strokes thereof for shifting the sleeve valves in the direction of piston movement, said casing sections each having an inlet port communicating with the pressure fluid pipe and normally closed by the respective sleeve valve but opened alternately by the shifting of the sleeve valves by the piston during the terminal portion of the strokes thereof to admit pressure fluid in the respective casing section to effect continuation of movement of the sleeve valves to the end of the strokes thereof, said fingers engaging respectively the inclined upper and lower edges of said cylinder ports during such continued upward and downward movement of the sleeve valves for effecting a concurrent turning movement thereof, said sleeve valves each having a pair of pressure fluid transfer ports and a pair of exhaust fluid transfer ports, the pressure fluid transfer ports of the upper and lower sleeve valves alternately moving into registration with the pressure fluid intake port and the cylinder port of the corresponding casing sections during the turning movement of the sleeve valves on alternate strokes thereof for directing pressure fluid to the cylinder for effecting the alternate strokes of the piston, said exhaust fluid transfer ports of each sleeve valve moving into registration with the cylinder port and exhaust port of the respective casing section concurrently with the movement into position of the pressure fluid transfer ports of other sleeve valve for directing exhaustfluid from the cylinder to the exhaust pipe.

4. In a well pumping mechanism adapted for operation adjacent the bottom of a well, a power cylinder, at reciprocal piston in the cylinder having a rod attached thereto for actuation thereof, a pressure fluid supply pipe, an exhaust fluid pipe for receiving fluid, a valve casing comprising aligned upper and lower sections each provided with a cylinder port having inclined upper and lower edges and each port communicating with the cylinder one above and theother below the range of operation of the piston therein, said casing sections each having a pair of intake ports communicating with the supply pipe and an exhaust port communicating with the exhaust pipe, and a sleeve valve in each casing section 10 connected at the adjacent ends for operation in unison, a finger extending from each sleeve valve through the cylinder port of the respective casing section into the cylinder one above and the other below the piston for alternate engagement by the piston during the terminal portions of alternate strokes thereof for vertical movement of said'fingers for moving said sleeve valves correspondingly, said upper sleeve valve having a port movable into registration with an intake port of the upper casing section during the terminal portion of the downward movement of the sleeve valves by the piston and the lower sleeve valve having an intake port movable into registration with an intake port of the lower casing section during the terminal portion of the upward movement of the sleeve valves by the piston for admitting pressure fluid into the casing sections alternately for continuing the movement of the sleeve valves in the respective directions and effecting'movement ofsaid fingers along the corresponding inclined edges ofthe said cylinder ports for imparting a turning action to the sleeve valves to the ends of the respective strokes thereof, said upper sleeve valve being provided with a pair of cooperating pressure fluid transfer ports adapted to register with a second intake port and the cylinder port of the upper casing section during such upward turning movement of the sleeve valves and during the succeeding downward stroke thereof imparted by the piston for directing pressure fluid into the cylinder above the piston for effecting the downward stroke thereof, said lower sleeve valve being provided with a similar pair of cooperating transfer ports adapted to register with a second intake port and the cylinder port of the lower casing section duringthe downward turning movement of the sleeve valves and during the succeeding" upward stroke thereof imparted by the piston for directing, pressure fluid into the cylinder below the piston for effecting the upward stroke thereof, and a pair of exhaust fluid transfer ports in each sleeve valve spaced for registration with the cylinder port and exhaust port of the respective casing sections for directing exhaust fluid from the cylinder at one side of the piston concurrently with the delivery of pressure fluid to the cylinder at the other side of the piston by the pressure fluid transfer ports of the other sleeve valve.

5. In well pumping mechanism adapted for operation adjacent the bottom of awell, a power cylinder, a piston in the cylinder having a rod attached thereto for operation thereof, a pressure fluid supply pipe, an exhaust fluid pipe for receiving fluid, a valve casing comprising a pair of casing sections each provided with a cylinder port communicating with said cylinder, one above and the other below the range of operation of the piston, the walls of the casing sections being provided with inlet ports communicating with the pressure fluid pipe and exhaust ports communicating with the exhaust pipe, a pair of upper and lower hollow cylindrical sleeve valves closed at the adjacent ends and interconnected for operation-in unison in closely fitting relation on the respective casing sections, each sleeve valve having a transverse head spaced from the closed end thereof and having in the cylindrical walls intermediate the head and closed end four spaced transfer ports whereby with the sleeve valves in the upper or lower-most positions two transfer ports are effective in one sleeve valve to direct pressure actuating fluid from the pressure line through therespective cylinder port to the cylinder above or below the piston to actuate the same in one direction while two transfer ports in the other sleeve valve register with the cylinder port and an exhaust port of the other casing section to direct exhaust fluid from the cylinder to said exhaust pipe, a finger carried by each sleeve valve and rojecting into the cylinder one above and the other below the piston each for engagement by the piston during a terminal portion of the stroke thereof in one direction for shifting the sleeve valves in said direction for closing of the transfer ports thereof for arresting the piston stroke and for opening another intake port in a casing section for admitting pressure fluid at the side of one of said heads for continuing the movement of the sleeve valves to the end of the stroke, and means acting on said fingers during said continued movement of the sleeve valves for turning the sleeve valves axially to positions in the casing sections for effecting registration of the other transfer ports of the sleeve valves with intake and exhaust ports of said casing sections for effecting the reverse stroke of the piston.

6. In well pumping mechanism adapted for operation adjacent the bottom of a well, a power cylinder, a reciprocal piston in the cylinder having a rod attached thereto for actuation thereof, a pressure fluid supply pipe, an exhaust fluid pipe for receiving fluid, a valve casing comprising aligned upper and lower sections each provided with a cylinder port communicating with the cylinder one above and the other below the range of operation of the piston, each casing section being provided with intake ports and exhaust ports communicating respectively with the pressure supply pipe and the exhaust pipe, a pair of aligned upper and lower hollow cylindrical sleeve valves each closely fitting the respective casing sections and connected together at adjacent ends for reciprocation and reciprocal-turning movement in unison within the respective casing sections, said sleeve valves each comprising a portion closed at the ends and each having a pair of cooperative pressure fluid transfer ports and a pair of cooperative exhaust fluid transfer ports in the cylindrical walls thereof between the ends, the pressure fluid transfer ports of each sleeve valve being arranged to register with an intake port and the cylinder port of the respective casing section during a range of movement of the sleeve valves in the respective casing section for delivering pressure fluid alternately to opposite sides of the piston to effect reciprocation thereof, the exhaust fluid transfer ports of each sleeve valve being arranged for registration with the delivery port and an exhaust port of the respective casing section for transferring exhaust fluid from the cylinder to the exhaust pipe concurrently with the delivery of pressure fluid to the cylinder by the other sleeve valve, a member carried by each sleeve valve and projecting into the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston each for engagement by the piston during a terminal portion of the stroke thereof in one direction for shifting the sleeve valves in the corresponding direction to move the said pressure fluid transfer ports and the exhaust fluid transfer ports of the sleeve valves to neutral positions out or registry with the ports of the casing sections for arresting the stroke of the piston, said sleeve valves each having a skirt at the free end provided with a port movable into registration with another said intake port in the respective casing section for admitting pressure fluid into the casing section during said shifting of the sleeve valves by the piston for continuing the movement of the sleeve valves to the end of the respective stroke thereof, and means coacting with said members for turning the sleeve valves as the valves move through the remainder of said stroke for effecting registration of the pair of pressure fluid transfer ports of the other sleeve valve with the intake and with said cylinder ports of the respecttive casing section for effecting reverse operation of the piston and for concurrently effecting registration of the other pair of exhaust fluid transfer ports with the cylinder and exhaust ports of the other casing section.

7, In well pumping mechanism adapted for operation adjacent the bottom of a well, a power cylinder, a reciprocal piston in the cylinder having a rod attached thereto for actuation thereof, a pressure fluid supply pipe, an exhaust fluid pipe for receiving fluid, a valve casing comprising aligned upper and lower sections each provided with a cylinder port communicating with the cylinder one above and the other below the range of operation of the piston, each casing section being provided with intake ports and exhaust ports communicating respectively with the pressure supply pipe and the exhaust pipe, a pair of aligned upper and lower cylindrical sleeve valves closely fitting the interior walls of the respective casing sections and joined at the adjacent ends for movement in unison within said casing sections between uppermost and lowermost positions therein, said sleeve valves each having a pair of pressure fluid transfer ports arranged to register during a portion of each cycle of movement of the sleeve valves with the intake port and the cylinder port of the respective casing section for directing pressure fluid to the cylinder at opposed ends of the piston for effecting reciprocation thereof, said sleeve valves each having a pair of exhaust fluid transfer ports arranged to register with the cylinder port and the exhaust port of the respective casing section for directing exhaust fluid from said cylinder to said exhaust pipe concurrently with the delivery of pressure fluid to the cylinder by the other sleeve valve, said sleeve valves each having a member extending into the cylinder one above and the other below the piston each for engagement by the piston during the latter portion of alternate strokes thereof for shifting said sleeve valves to positions wherein said pressure fluid transfer ports of one sleeve valve and exhaust ports of the other are closed to arrest the stroke of the piston and for opening a second intake port in one casing section to continue the stroke of the sleeve valves in the same direction to the end of the stroke thereof, means acting on said members during said continued movement of the sleeve valves for turning the sameto effect registration of the other pairs of pressure fluid transfer ports and exhaust fluid transfer ports of the sleeve valves with the pressure fluid intake and cylinder ports and the cylinder port and exhaust port respectively of the casing sections for initiating the succeeding stroke of the piston. 8. In pumping mechanism adapted for operation adjacent the bottom of a well, a power cylinder, a piston in the cylinder having a rod attached thereto for operation thereof, a pressure fluid supply pipe, an exhaust fluid pipe for receiving fluid, a valve casing comprising aligned upper and lower cylindrical sections each provided with a cylinder port communicating with the cylinder one above and the other below the piston, said casing walls each having intake ports communicating with the pressure fluid supply pipe and exhaust fluid ports communicating with the exhaust pipe, and a pair of cylindrical sleeve valves one in each casing section and connected for operation in unison each within the respective casing section, a member projecting laterally from each sleeve valve into the cylinder one above and the other below the piston one for engagement by the piston during the terminal portion of the down strokes thereof for shifting the sleeve valves downwardly to an intermediate position and the other member for engagement by the piston during the terminal portion of the up strokes thereof for shifting the sleeve valves upwardly to an intermediate position, said sleeve valves each having an inclined intake port in the opposed end portions thereof, the upper said inclined port during the piston imposed descent of the sleeve valves toward intermediate position and the lower said inclined port during the piston imposed ascent of the sleeve valves to intermediate position moving into registration with an intake port of the respective casing section for admitting pressure fluid into the casing section for effecting the continued movement of the sleeve valves to the end of the stroke thereof, means for turning the sleeve valves in one direction during such continued descent thereof and similar means for turning the sleeve valves in the opposite direction during such continued ascent thereof, said inclined upper and lower ports of the sleeve valves being of adequate length to remain in partial registration each with the respective registering intake port when the sleeve valves are in the respective lowermost and uppermost position for admitting pressure fluid tending to retain the sleeve valves in said respective positions, said sleeve valves each having a pair of pressure fluid transfer ports and a pair of exhaust fluid transfer ports, said pressure fluid transfer ports of the upper sleeve valve moving into registration with the other intake port and the cylinder port of the upper casing section during the upward turning movement of the sleeve valves for delivering pressure fluid to the cylinder above the piston to effect the down stroke thereof, the pressure fluid transfer ports of the lower sleeve valve moving into registration with the intake and cylinder ports of the lower casing section during the downward turning movement of the sleeve valves to efiect the up stroke of the piston, the exhaust ports of each sleeve valve moving into registration with the cylinder port and exhaust port of the respective casing section for directing exhaust fluid from the cylinder to the exhaust pipe concurrently with the delivery of pressure fluid to the cylinder at the other end of the piston by the other sleeve valve.

9. In a well pumping mechanism having a pump adapted for operatlon adjacent the bottom of a well, motor means for actuating said pump, comprising a casing providing a power cylinder directly adjacent and vertically axially aligned with said pump, a piston in said cylinder attached to the pump for operation thereof, a pressure fluid supply pipe and an exhaust fiuid pipe attached eccentrically to said casing for supporting the pumping mechanism, and a single valve structure interposed between said pipes and said cylinder for automatically controlling reciprocation of said piston by pressure fluid from said supply pipe, comprising interconnected upper and lower cylindrical sleeve valves, members extending therefrom into said cylinder for reciprocation by said power piston, and stationary cam means acting on said members during the final increments of reciprocal movements of the power piston for turning said sleeve valves to complete the appropriate valving function simultaneously with the resulting reversal of movement of the power piston.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,081,220 Coherly May 25, 1937 2,191,369 Chenault Feb. 20, 1940 2,624,285 Hall Jan. 6, 1953 2,645,208 Hardesty July 14, 1953 

